Pubdate: Tue, 18 Dec 2012
Source: Kamloops Daily News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 Kamloops Daily News
Contact:  http://www.kamloopsnews.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/679

NO MORE AUTHORIZED HOME MARIJUANA GROW-OPS

The federal government is poised to eliminate licensed medical
marijuana grow-ops in homes that have long been criticized over safety
concerns and connections to the illegal drug trade.

Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq has announced a planned shift to a new
system of federally regulated commercial producers of medical pot who
will supply authorized users who have a prescription from their doctor.

"Under our new rule, only facilities that meet strict security
requirements will be able to produce marijuana for medical purposes,"
Aglukkaq told a press conference in Maple Ridge on Sunday, Dec. 16.

The new system - which also ends government production of medical pot
- - is expected to come at a sharply higher price for the nearly 26,000
users authorized to possess medical marijuana.

Authorities have argued most medical pot home growers are producing
far more plants than they require, suggesting rampant abuse of the
program by licensees selling into the illicit market.

"The high value of marijuana on the illicit market increases the risk
of home invasions," Aglukkaq noted. "These production operations can
also present fire and toxic mould hazards."

The Fire Chiefs Association of B.C. (FCABC) said the change will
improve safety in residential neighbourhoods.

"The fire service across Canada has been raising the alarm about the
fire and safety risks associated with growing marijuana indoors for
many years," said FCABC president Len Garis, who is also Surrey's fire
chief.

Garis stressed the fire service has never been concerned about the use
of marijuana for medical purposes.

"Our focus is on how medical marijuana is grown," he said. "The fact
is, medical marijuana has typically been grown in a residential
setting, which is not suitable or safe for growing marijuana."

Under previous regulations, medical-marijuana grow operations operated
without their local municipal government's knowledge or approval and
were not subject to health, fire, building or plumbing
inspections.

The federal Ministry of Health said it intends to implement the system
by March 31, 2014, at which point all current licences to possess or
produce pot would expire. 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D